Water circulator



y 1950 M. o. THRUSH 2,515,811

WATER CIRCULATOR Filed Nov. 19, 1945 Illl Patented July 18, 1950 WATER CIRCULATQR Marquis O. Thrush, Peru, Ind, assignor to H. A. Thrush & Company, Peru, Ind.

Application November 19, 1945, Serial No. 629,503 (01. 103-111) 8 Claims.

This invention relates to water circulators, and more particularly to water circulators for hot water heating systems and the present invention is animprovement over that shown in my Patent No. 2,358,670.

As stated in the above-mentioned patent, water circulators are permitted to operate for long periods of time without attention, and it is important that dependable lubrication be provided. As stated, it is also important that the circulator be inexpensive or competitive in price, and be applicable to homes, regardless of cost.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a circulator of improved, simplified, construction, including a shaft seal with wear on the shaft and leakage minimized, and employing a lubrication which makes attention unnecessary for a period of years.

A further object of the invention is to provide a circulator with the critical parts, including the drive shaft and sealing and lubrication means therefor, constructed as a removable unit and without utilizing non-ferrous metal.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following descrip tion taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein the figure is a vertical fragmentary section with parts in elevation.

Referring to the drawings, a casing or housing I is provided with an inlet I! and an outlet l2. Within the housing I0 is a wall 53 which defines an impeller chamber Id, and also forms a division between the water flowing into and from the chamber. Water entering the housing through the inlet l I will be caused to pass above and below the wall l3 and into the chamber M, from which chamber it can be discharged through the outlet I2.

Mounted on the casing or housing H] is an oil container or bonnet l 5 having arms H5 providing a motor support ll. An impeller shaft I8 extends through the central portion of the bonnet I5, and is adapted to be driven through a flexible cOllDliDg (not shown) by a motor (not shown).

On the lower end of the impeller shaft I8 is mounted an impeller 19 by means of a nut 20, or other fastening means. The impeller is preferably made of a pair of sheet metal stampings of disc-like shape with blades 2i struck from the bodies of the same. This particular type of impeller is the subject matter of my Patent No. 2,358,670, and need not be described.

The bonnet It: has a bottom wall 22 through which the impeller shaft extends, and in order to provide a seal for such shaft where it passes through the bottom wall of the bonnet, a seal assembly is employed.

In my previous circulator the bonnet was mad from a single casting having a dividing wall between the impeller and lubricant chambers. On the lower side of the dividing wall was an integral seal nose and on the upper side an integral self-lubricating shaft hearing. In the present construction these critical parts, i. e., the selflubricating shaft bearing and shaft seal with the driving shaft are removable as a unit. This assembly is simplerto apply and remove.

The shaft seal assembly is adapted to fit into a thread opening 23 in the bottom wall 22. This assembly consists of an externally threaded member' 24 having a, bearing sleeve extending substantially to the top of the bonnet, between which sleeve and the outer wall of the bonnet is provided a reservoir for oil or lubricant. The sleeve 25 is provided with an internal spiral channel 26 extending throughout the length of the sleeve so that oil admitted to this channel around the rotating shaft will upon rotation of the shaft be caused to travel upwardly through the spiral channel and be discharged over the top end of the sleeve so that it may descend by gravity into the oil chamber around the sleeve. Admission of oil from the oil chamber is admitted through passage 21 to the shaft so that it may travel up the spiral passage or channel.

The member 2G is threaded into the casing sufficiently tightly to prevent leakage of oil through thethreads of the joint, and therefore the only place left for liquid to escape is around and in close contact with the rotary shaft l8. In sealing the shaft against the passage of fluid, it is necessary to prevent lubricant in the oil reservoir from escaping downwardly past the seal and to prevent liquid circulated in the casing H) from escaping upwardly past the seal, it being desirable to maintain these fluids apart.

In order to seal against the passage of liquid in either direction through the bottom wall of the bonnet, shaft sealing means is provided. In accomplishing this the threaded member 24 has attached to it a, bearing member 28 held in contact with the member 24 by means of a screw thimble 29. The upper and lower opposed surfaces of th bearing member serve as seating surfaces for sealing members 30 of carbon or the like, of which there are preferably two employed, one above and one below the bearing member, and each carbon sealing member in addition to its sealing extremity, which bears against the surface of the spring-ring 32 seated in a groove l8 in the shaft [8. The ring 32 bears against a metal washer 33 within the hollow sleeve portion of the carbon sealing member and presses a sealing gasket 34 tightly against the shaft. The lower carbon sealing member is identical with that just described, but is mounted with its ends reversed on the shaft l8 beneath the bearingmember 28. Each car'- bon sealing member has its seating nose against the bearing member 28, one on each side of thebearing member and with packing in thehollow" sleeve portion of the sealing member, the packing held in the upper carbon sealing'memberbymeans of the spring-ring 3! bearing against the Washer 32. The packing is held in the lower bearing member by means of a helical spring 35,

bearing against a similar washer 33 which 'com-- presses the gasket 3d. The lower end of the spring 35 ;rests UPOl'lzLhG'llDDBI surface-of \the impeller.

It will be readily understood'that with the present invention a unitary bearing and sealing assembly-is provided, which assembly may be applied by threaded attachment or in other desired manner to the bottom of the bracketzcasting in fiuid i-tightcontact therewith. Thetop-of the bonnet or oil reservoir is provided with a cover plate 36 frictionally pressed into position; and having in its center carried in a housingz3'l a seal ring-38-which' fits snugly against the shaft to pre- 1 vent leakage of'oil.

In theoperation of the device the bearing with the spiral channel remains stationary, and the shaft rotates therein. Oil is permitted to reach the shaft by means of the channel 21 through the bearing, and'this' oil will travel or be carried. up the channel due to rotation of the shaft until the oil or other lubricant overflows from the upper end ofthe bearing, and travels or flows by gravity down into the oil reservoir, providing a continuous circulation of oil through the entire bearing; This obviates the necessity of'any wicking or capillary material, at the same" time keeping the bearing properly lubricated and eliminating undesirable noises due to friction betwe-enthe shaft and its bearing. The bonnet is provided with an oil level filling plug 35 at a sufficient height that ample oil reserve is obtained, makingit unnecessary to refill with oil over a period of years.

The spiral groove in the bearing is relatively shallow, being of a depth only sufficient to hold a quantity of oil slightly in excess of the oil film between the shaft'and the adjacent-smooth surface of the'bearing, so that when the shaft rotates it will' exert pressure on theoil'in the'groove and cause it to travel upwardly in the bore around the shaft, the inherent cohesion between the oil particles or molecules producing ageneral upwardmovement of theoil from the wellor chamber to the top of the hearing, so that it can overflow and return to the well.

It will be understoodthat considerable advantage is obtained by having the constructionin which the entirelubricating and shaft sealing parts can be assembled in a single unit, inthe production of the device, or in the renewal of various changes maybe made in the-invention:

without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A circulator for hot:water heating systems designed without the necessity of using nonferrous metal, and comprising housing defining -an impeller chamber and a lubricant chamber removably secured to said housing, one end wall of said lubricant chamber separating said chambers andhaving-an opening therein, a shaft sealing' and lubricating assembly disposed in said opening, an impeller shaft rotatably mounted in said assembly, an impeller secured to said shaft and disposed in said impeller chamber, said sealing and lubricating assembly comprising a bearinge'sleeve disposed. in said opening and having asthreadedlzconnection with said end wall, said sleeve including a spiral lubricant groove through whichlubricant will be forced by the rotation of said shaft, a sealing disk rotatably mounted on said shaft, a screw thimble threadedly received onsaid sleeve-land binding said. diskagainst the endothereof, said sealing disk having va bearing surface at'each face, sealing rings on saidshaft having sealing-surfaces in contact'with the sealin'glsurfaces of said disk, each of said sealing rings having an enlargedportion providing an annular recessaroun'dssaid shaft, a gasket in each of said recesses,.a wear ring resting on said gaskets, and spring. means urgin'g'said discs and sealing rings together in a manner to assist in-the sealing operation whereby leakage of lubricant and water is prevented and said lubricant chamber, sealing assembly, shaft and impeller maybe removed from said housing as a unit thus preventing entry of lubricant into said impeller chamber.

2. A circulator for hot water heating systems designed without the necessity of using nonferrous metal, comprising a housing defining an impeller chamber provided with an opening, a closure for said opening reinovably securedto said housing, a shaft'sealing and lubricating assembly secured to said closure, an impeller shaft rotatablymounted insaid assembly, an impeller secured to said shaft and disposed in said impeller chamber, said sealing and lubricating assembly comprising a bearing sleeve having a threaded connection with said closure, said sleeve including a spiral lubricant groove through which lubricant will be-forced by therotation of said shaft, a sealing disk on said shaft, a screw thimble' threadedly received-onsaid sleeve and binding said disk against the end thereof, said sealing dislc having a bearing surface at each face, sealing-= rings: on said shaft having sealing surfaces in contactwith the sealing surfaces of said disk, each of said sealingrings having an enlarged portion-providing anannular recess aroundsaid shaft, gasket-in each of-sai-d recesses, a wear ring resting on said gaskets, and spring means urging-the gaskets and their associated parts together in a manner to assist in the sealing operation whereby leakage of'lubricant and Water is prevented and said closure, sealing assembly, shaft closure for said opening removably secured to said housing, a shaft sealing and lubricating assembly secured to said closure, an impeller shaft rotatably mounted in said assembly, an impeller secured to said shaft and disposed in said impeller chamber, said sealing .and lubricating assembly comprising a bearing sleeve having a threaded connection with said closure, said sleeve including a spiral lubricant groove through which lubricant will be forced by the rotation of said shaft, a sealing disk on said shaft, said sealing disk having a bearing surface at each side, sealing rings on said shaft having sealing surfaces in contact with the sealing surface of said disk, and each of said sealing rings having an enlarged portion providing an annular recess around said shaft and a gasket in each of said recesses whereby leakage of lubricant and water is prevented and said sealing assembly, shaft and impeller may be removed from said housing as a unit through said opening thus preventing entry of lubricant into said impeller chamber.

4. A circulator for hot water heating systems designed without the necessity of using nonferrous metal, comprising a housing defining an impeller chamber provided with an opening, a closure for said opening removably secured to said housing, a shaft sealing and lubricating assembly secured to said closure, an impeller shaft rotatably mounted in said assembly, an impeller secured to said shaft and disposed in said impeller chamber, said sealing and lubricating assembly comprising a bearing sleeve secured to said closure, said sleeve including a spiral lubricant groove through which lubricant will be forced by the rotation of said shaft, a sealing disk on said shaft, holding rings on the opposite sides of said disc and a gasket between each ring and said shaft, and spring means urging the gaskets and their associated parts together in a manner to assist in the sealing operation whereby leakage of lubricant and water is prevented and said sealing assembly, shaft and impeller may be removed from said housing as a unit through said opening thus preventing entries of lubricant into said impeller chamber.

5. A circulator forhot water heating systems designed to eliminate the necessity fo using nonferrous metal, comprising a housing defining an impeller chamber having an opening, a shaft sealing and lubricating assembly secured in said opening, an impeller shaft rotatably mounted in said assembly, an impeller secured to said shaft and disposed in said impeller chamber, said sealing and lubricating assembly comprising a bearing sleeve secured to said housing, said sleeve including a spiral lubricant groove, a sealing member carried by said sleeve, sealing rings on said shaft on opposite sides of the sealing member and having bearing surfaces engaging said sealing member, spring means urging said sealing rings toward and in contact with said sealing member, and gasket means between said sealing rings and said shaft whereby leakage of lubricant and water is prevented and said sealing assembly, shaft and impeller may be removed from said housing through said opening thu preventing entry of lubricant into said impeller chamber.

6. A circulator for hot water heating systems comprising a housing defining an impeller chamber, a lubricant chamber removably secured to 7 said housing, one end wall of said lubricant chamber separating said chambers and having an opening therein, a shaft sealing and lubricating assembly mounted in said opening, an impeller shaft rotatably mounted in said assembly. an impeller secured to said shaft and disposed in said impeller chamber, said assembly comprising a bearing member having one end threadedly received in said opening, a sealing member carried by said bearing member, sealing rings on said shaft on opposite sides of said sealing member and bearing thereagainst, spring means urging said sealing rings toward and in contact with said sealing member, and gasket means between said sealing rings and said shaft whereby leakage of lubricant .and water is prevented and said sealing assembly, shaft and impeller may be removed from said housing as a unit thus preventing entry of lubricant into said impeller chamber.

'7. A wall closure member forming a bearing unit for a shaft and a fluid seal between a separable oil chamber and another chamber comprising an insert threaded through the separating wall for said chambers and having at one end a bearing member for said shaft extending into the oil chamber and against its opposite threaded end a sealed bearing disc, clamping means for securing said disk, sealing member on opposite sides of said disk rotatable with said shaft and pressed into fluid tight relationship with respect to said disc and said shaft by resilient spring means whereby leakage of oil from said oil chamber to said other chamber is prevented and said oil chamber, seal and shaft may be removed from said other chamber as a unit.

8. A seal and bearing for a shaft passing through a wall comprising an elongated bearing sleeve threadedly mounted in said wall and rotatably receiving said shaft, a recess in the end of said sleeve, a sealing ring disposed in said recess about said shaft, a gasket disposed in a recess in said sealing ring and engaging said shaft, a sealing disc rotatably mounted on said shaft, one face of said disc engaging said sealing ring, a cap threadedly received on the end of said sleeve and clamping said sealing ring thereagainst, a second sealing ring engaging the opposite face of said sealing disc, 9. second gasket disposed in a recess in said second sealing ring and engaging said shaft and resilient means engaging said gaskets to urge the same into tight engagement with said shaft and said sealing rings into tight engagement with said sealing disc whereby leakage from one side of said wall to the other is prevented.

MARQUIS O. THRUSH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,363,378 Vuilleumier Dec. 28, 1920 1,842,081 Durdin, Jr Jan. 19, 1932 1,861,275 Hopkins May 31, 1932 2,201,478 Czarnecki Jr. et al. May 21, 1941 2,265,448 Price et a1. Dec. 9, 1941 2,358,670 Thrush Sept. 19, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 309,060 Great Britain 1929 452,481 Great Britain 1936 

